A couple of weeks ago – reacting to SWA charging for an overweight bag – I asked the question:
If airlines charge for overweight bags, why don’t they charge fore for overweight passengers? After all, a pound is a pound is a pound.
Specifically, I opined:
There’s a societal cost to somebody’s ample butt hanging over onto somebody else’s seat.
Here’s a novel plan: how about a base ticket price for the first 175 pounds and then $75 for each 50 pounds (or portion thereof) over the limit.
Price the human heavyweights,well, just like the overweight bags.
Then, rent the seat belt extenders for say $20.
Profit improvement for the airlines and major step forward in the war on obesity.
As President Obama likes to say: “It’s common sense.”
I took some heat for the idea but at least one airline thinks we’re onto something.
According to The Guardian, Samoa Airlines the first-mover to tilt the scales in favor of fit & trim passengers.
Here’s the skinny on the Samoa Air plan …
The Homa Files 